My first fan fic! Be nice, it gets better.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 1: Drastic Changes

A girl with frizzy brown hair sat opening a very fat letter. She had been waiting patiently the entire morning, all through breakfast with the six redheaded Weasleys and of course Harry Potter, through a short game of Quidditch, and half a book.

And now, when it came time to open this important letter that she had been waiting for the entire morning, her hands were trembling. Yes, Hermione Granger, master of tranquility in strenuous situations, was so nervous she was shaking.

She could barely keep her letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in her hands. She pulled the parchment inside out with the greatest care and opened it to read.

Her eyes moved back and forth on the page very quickly while a smile formed on her lips. Letting out a screech of excitement, Hermione ran down the stairs of the Burrow to let her two best friends know the good news.

"Ron! Harry! You'll never believe the news!" She waved the letter out in front of her for her friends to see.

"What is it?" asked Harry.

"I'm going to be Head Girl this year! Isn't that great?"

Ron stood up from the plate of food in front of him and embraced Hermione, giving her a kiss in the process. "That's wonderful news, Hermione. I always knew you would get it! After all, you are the smartest witch of our year."

"Thanks Ron."

"Hey stop it for a second you two. Look at your mum, Ron. Why is she running like that?" Harry was pointing out the window at Mrs. Weasley, who was sprinting to the house.

When she got in the house, Ron asked, "What's the matter Mum? You look like you saw You-Know-Who himself!"

"Don't joke like that Ron!" Mrs. Weasley panted, "Hermione dear, this letter just came for you. I think it may be your Hogwarts letter!"

"That can't be possible," Hermione muttered, taking the letter from her, "I already got my letter. I'm going to be Head Girl this year!"

"That's great Hermione! I always knew you would get it. But what could be in this letter?"

"There's only one way to find out," Hermione returned, opening the second letter and unfolding it.

As soon as she did, she regretted it. Her heart sank to her knees as she read the letter.

Miss Granger,

I regret to inform you that your parents were attacked by Death Eaters in the early morning this morning. Your father was regrettably killed and your mother was seriously injured and is in St. Mungo's. I'm sorry for your loss.

Headmistress McGonagall

"No. No, this is NOT happening." Bursting into tears and dropping the letter, Hermione sank into the nearest chair.

Ron picked up the letter and read it, then passed it to Harry. He got down on his knees. "Hermione… I'm so sorry."

Hermione merely nodded her head. Her lungs were beginning to constrict, every breath out only made it harder to breathe in again. She began to breathe very fast, but it wasn't helping. "I. Can't. Breathe." The world was going fuzzy and Hermione felt herself losing grip with reality and falling into a world of darkness.

"Mione!? Hermione!" a voice said. Someone was shaking her.

Hermione tried to open her eyes but they were too heavy. "Look she's trying to wake up!" a second one cried.

"Ronald Weasley! Get out of her face and let her get some air!" a third one chastised.

"But Mum!" whined the first one, "I need to make sure she's alright!"

"She'll wake up soon."

Hermione tried to open her eyes once again to see who was talking so loud. She was more successful on the second attempt than the first. A redheaded boy was right in her face, his eyebrows furrowed and eyes searching for any sign of movement.

"What happened?" Hermione whispered. Her head was pounding. This was the worst headache she had ever had.

"Oh thank Merlin. You passed out and smacked your head on the table," Ron explained, "We're going to take you to St. Mungo's."

"Alright," Hermione managed to get out. The effort of keeping her eyes open was too much for her to handle. She shut her eyes tightly and went back to her dark world where there was no pain.

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When she awoke again, the room was dark. Hermione vaguely remembered what had happed earlier. Blinking slowly, Hermione looked around the room. There was one other bed to her right. Someone was in it, wrapped up in bandages. Closer on her right side a redheaded boy lay asleep with his head resting on Hermione's bed. On her left, a messy jet-black haired boy also laid asleep, glasses askew and snoring softly.

She looked at the redhead and whispered, "Ron?"

The boy's head shot up and he smiled. "Mione! You're awake! Harry wake up, Hermione's awake! We were so worried about you," he exclaimed, hugging her.

"Where's my mum?"

"Over there," he gestured to the person covered in bandages. Hermione let out a sob.

"This isn't really happening is it? It's all a dream. Oh Ron, what am I going to do?"

"I don't know, but I'm here for you." Ron lightly kissed her forehead which started to throb.

"Ow, my head…" she moaned, rubbing it.

"You hit your head pretty hard, Hermione," Harry said, straightening his glasses.

"How long have I been unconscious?"

"A few hours. Professor McGonagall was here earlier. She said you don't have to come back to school right away if you don't want to, you can wait until you are ready," Ron said, sounding almost jealous.

"Well you don't have to worry because I'm never going back."

Both boys looked at her, dumbfounded.

"Hermione, I know you're upset, but you have to go to school," Harry said.

"I'm NOT going to school and you can't make me." Hermione crossed her arms.

"You have to go sometime, Mione, you're Head Girl."

"I SAID NO!"